Richard White speaks to a player on the bench during the 2012-13 season when he was head coach of the Scotsburn Major Bantam Crushers. White was named head coach of the Weeks Major Midgets this week. Most recently, he spent the 2013-14 season on the Weeks Midgets staff as an assistant.

The quote by Harvey MacKay speaks to how valuable using the time you have is. For Richard White, a university student in 2006, taking some free time to help coach the Pictou County Scotians junior B team was the beginning of his love for coaching hockey.

When White was approached about joining the junior B squad as an assistant by Tim MacMillan, a former Scotians’ coach, he looked at the time he had available and decided it was something he was interested in pursuing.

“I learned a lot of things from him (Tim) and Rob Ryan, who was the head coach at the time, and I really enjoyed it so I stuck with it after that,” he said. “Then the opportunity came up with Dave (MacIntyre) with the midget team in 2008 to step in and help out. I was joining him and Rick Muise as a support guy and it evolved into more responsibilities and I fell in love with it.”

After his time with the Scotians he spent two years with the Weeks Major Midgets as an assistant before two years as head coach of the Scotsburn Major Bantam Crushers, which he considers “key years” in his coaching development.

“I think one of the biggest things is you’re ‘the guy,’ you’re the captain of the ship and you have that responsibility where obviously if you’re successful, great, but sometimes if you’re not, at the end of the day it rests on you,” he said about being Scotsburn head coach. “There is a little bit more pressure and a few more requirements in terms of organizing, planning and designing strategies of the hockey nature, as well as on and off the ice. I grew as a person and as a coach in how to handle all those things.”

Most recently, he spent the 2013-14 season behind the midget bench as an assistant.

The Weeks Hockey Organization announced this week that he will be back behind the Weeks Midgets bench for the 2014-15 season, but in a different role, as the head coach.

“Obviously I was excited and it’s something I’ve had my eye on since I started coaching,” said White about receiving the news. “One of my first coaching gigs was an assistant coaching job with the team. Then I spent a couple years at the bantam level doing what I can and working with the Hockey Nova Scotia high performance program to prepare myself for this level. I was excited when they put the faith in me to be the guy and I’m looking forward to it.”

The decision comes after MacIntyre officially announced in April that he wouldn’t be returning to coach next season. He had hinted prior to the official announcement that it was likely he wouldn't return.

“We had some very capable applicants and it was a very difficult decision,” said Art Kennedy, Weeks general manager. “I think Richard has a lot to offer. He has shown a passion for hockey that not a lot of people do. The knowledge he has of kids at this age is a great asset to this organization and we have full confidence that he will do a lot for these kids in the future.”

Kennedy also acknowledged the work put in by all staff in recent years, including Troy Peters who spent 14 years with the team before deciding to step down after this season.

White shared a similar sentiment, saying he couldn’t thank everyone involved in the Weeks Hockey Organization enough for their hard work over the years and the impact they had on the coach he has become.

“Without them (Dave, Troy and Ryan) and working with them over the last number of years – especially Dave giving me an opportunity four or five years ago to step in and help out – without that opportunity and without learning things from all those guys and being around the rink with all those guys I definitely wouldn’t be here in this position,” said White. “Without their help and support we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

Next week White will begin his duties as head coach as the Weeks Midgets hold their evaluation camp at the Wellness Centre on May 13, 15 and 16.

Richard White speaks to a player on the bench during the 2012-13 season when he was head coach of the Scotsburn Major Bantam Crushers. White was named head coach of the Weeks Major Midgets this week. Most recently, he spent the 2013-14 season on the Weeks Midgets staff as an assistant.